Double Disaster: Dust Bowl and the Great Depression — Reading Comprehension

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Grades

Standards

D2.HIS.2.3-5
D2.HIS.3.3-5
RI.4.3
RI.4.4
W.4.2

About This Reader

This engaging U.S. history reading passage explores the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression, two major events that shaped America in the 1930s. Suitable for upper elementary readers, the passage uses clear language to explain how severe drought and dust storms destroyed farms in the Great Plains, forcing thousands of families to move west. Students will learn about the economic crisis known as the Great Depression, the challenges people faced, and the government’s response through President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. The resource includes a vocabulary glossary, timeline, comprehension questions, writing prompts, and a graphic organizer. It features a public domain photograph, read aloud audio, and a full Spanish translation. This lesson aligns with C3 History and Common Core standards to foster literacy and historical understanding.

CONTENT PREVIEW

Dust storm. It was conditions of this sort which forced many farmers to abandon the area. Spring 1935. New Mexico.
Source: Library of Congress - Lange, Dorothea

The Great Depression began in 1929, when the stock market crashed and many people lost their jobs. Banks closed and families lost their savings. Across the United States, people struggled to find work and buy food. Farms and factories closed. This hard time lasted for years.

In the middle of the country, another disaster struck. The Dust Bowl began in the 1930s. Years of dry weather and poor farming methods caused the soil to turn to dust. Powerful winds blew the dry soil into huge dust storms. These storms covered homes, roads, and fields in thick dust. People could not grow crops. Animals died. Many families had to leave their farms.

One farmer said, "Our farm was buried in dust. We could not see the sun." Families packed their things and drove west, hoping to find jobs in California. They were called migrants. Life was hard for them, but they did not give up. They showed courage and helped each other. Community soup kitchens gave out free meals. Neighbors shared what little they had.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt became president in 1933. He promised to help. He started the New Deal program. The New Deal gave people jobs building roads, planting trees, and fixing parks. It helped farmers learn better ways to take care of the soil. Slowly, the country began to recover. New laws made banks safer. More people found work, and families felt hope again.

The Dust Bowl and the Great Depression changed America. People learned to work together and solve problems. They became stronger and more caring toward each other. Today, we remember their bravery and the lessons they taught us about helping others in hard times.

Interesting Fact: In one year during the Dust Bowl, dust storms carried away enough dirt to fill over 300,000 train cars!

When did the Great Depression start?

1929193319451918

What did families lose during the Great Depression?

Jobs and savingsHouses and petsBooks and clothesCars and toys

Who started the New Deal?

Franklin D. RooseveltAbraham LincolnGeorge WashingtonJohn F. Kennedy

Why did dust storms happen in the Dust Bowl?

Dry weather and poor farmingToo much rainNew machinesCold winters

How did people help each other?

Shared food and helped neighborsBuilt new banksMoved to the cityBought new cars

What was the main effect of the Dust Bowl?